John Densmore, drummer for The Doors, will be signing copies of “The Doors: Unhinged” at the following location:
9/27/13 Noon
J&R Music
1 Park Row
New York, NY 10038
Phone:(212) 238-9000
Book Description
Drummer John Densmore’s THE DOORS: UNHINGED (available through Amazon) is the true story of the court case that put Jim Morrison’s legacy on trial and divided the former band mates in half, with Ray Manzarek and Robby Krieger on one side, and John Densmore and the estate of Jim Morrison on the other. In 1968, Morrison had castigated Manzarek, Krieger, and Densmore for agreeing to let Buick use “Light My Fire” in a TV commercial when he had been out of town. The group had agreed that the use of the Doors’ music in commercials would undermine the meaning of the music, that using Morrison’s lyrics to sell products would be making a deal with the devil. “I know you, Ray,” Morrison had said. “You’re only in it for the money.” After Morrison threatened to smash a Buick onstage in protest, Densmore, Manzarek, and Krieger were ashamed by their own greed, and the band decided to ditch the Buick deal. But now thirty years later, the money was bigger, and Morrison was dead. When Cadillac approached the band with a $15 million dollar contract—the biggest deal in advertising history—Densmore was the lone holdout. Then Manzarek and Krieger decided to form a version of the Doors with Police drummer Stewart Copeland and the Cult singer Ian Astbury and market it with Morrison’s image and the name The Doors (big print) of the 21st Century (tiny print), Densmore took legal action. He next found himself in court, allied with the Morrison estate, facing a countersuit from his “musical family” and one of his best friends for over thirty years.
About the Author
An original and founding member of the musical group The Doors, John Densmore co-wrote and produced numerous gold and platinum albums and toured the United States, Europe, and Japan. His autobiography, RIDERS ON THE STORM, was on the New York Times bestseller list. He was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1993. He has written numerous articles for Rolling Stone, London’s The Guardian, the Nation, LA Times, Chicago Tribune, Huffington Post and the Utne Reader.
In film production, he co-produced “Road to Return,” narrated by Tim Robbins. It won several prestigious national awards and was screened for Congress, resulting in the writing of a bill. He also Executive Produced “Juvies,” narrated by Mark Wahlberg, which aired on HBO. It won numerous awards (2004 IDA for excellence, U.S. International Film Fest – creative excellence).
